12th December
In so many way, Jesus’ parable of ‘The Lost Sheep’ makes no economic sense: why would the shepherd risk the safety of the ninety-nine in favour of the lost one? It makes no sense at all unless YOU are that lost one. Jesus shows us where his pastoral priorities lie; as a Church Pope Francis constantly reminds us that our care if for everyone, not just the ones who happen to come to the church building. We are a Church of inclusivity, joy, and welcome.
Today: open your heart to welcome someone you have never met before.
We can pray: Dear God, Thank you that you love us so much and always will, no matter what we do or where we go. Thank you that you will always chase after us like that lost sheep. Thank you that you show us how to love others and we ask that you help us to grow in showing and sharing that love. We pray that this week in all that we do, that we would know your love deeply and that we would know that you’re by our side helping us and loving us! Amen
Our Lady of Guadalupe first introduced herself as the mother of God and the mother of all humanity when she appeared on the hill of Tepeyac in Mexico in 1531. A local Aztec farmer and convert to Christianity, Juan Diego, saw a glowing figure on the hill. After she had identified herself to him, Our Lady asked that Juan build her a shrine in that same spot, for her to show and share her love and compassion with all those who believe. Afterwards, Juan Diego visited Juan de Zumárraga, who was Archbishop of what is now Mexico City. Zumárraga dismissed him in disbelief and asked that the future Saint provide proof of his story and proof of the Lady’s identity. Although it was winter and nothing should have been in bloom, Juan Diego found an abundance of flowers of a type he had never seen before. The Virgin bundled the flowers into Juan's cloak, known as a ‘tilma’. When Juan Diego presented the tilma of exotic flowers to Zumárraga, the flowers fell out and he recognised them as Castilian roses, which are not found in Mexico. This actual tilma, preserved since that date and showing the familiar image of the Virgin Mary with her head bowed and hands together in prayer, represents the Virgin of Guadalupe. It remains perhaps the most sacred object in all of Mexico. What was even more significant, however, was that the tilma had been miraculously imprinted with a colourful image of the Virgin herself.